Capital Region Boxers Shine in Nationals

The Capital Region’s finest amateur boxers can ride home from the 2008 National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions with heads held high – real high.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan Tournament found the Schenectady Boxing Club’s Markus Williams (178 lb.) in the final sixteen fighters in his weight division (Remember, folks, that’s the final sixteen in the country!) before dropping a 4-3 decision to Alejandro Canez, from the Rocky Mountain Region. Albany’s Amir Imam made the final sixteen in the 125 lb, class and was decisioned by Pennsylvania’s Keenan Smith.

Albany’s Andre Lopez earned his way to the elite final eight fighters in the 132 lb. weight class and lost a heartbreaking decision to New Jersey’s Michael Perez.

Our congratulations to these worthy warriors, as well as to their coaches, Jerrick Jones of Albany’s Quail Street Boxing, and Vince Kittle of the Schenectady Boxing Club.

We’ll be talking to these fighters and coaches in the coming weeks to get their take on the Tournament and their goals for 2009.